Tray apparatus for refrigerator

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a tray apparatus for a refrigerator. The tray apparatus of the present invention is configured such that a tray  50  is brought into close contact with a ceiling surface c of a storage space by means of elastic forces from elastic members  90.  The tray  50  is supported at front and rear positions of both sides thereof by means of supporting links  60  serving as components of link mechanisms and the supporting links  60  are then connected through interlocking links  80,  so that they are integrally pivoted. The link mechanisms are supported on the ceiling surface c of the storage space by holders  100.  According to the present invention, an article b with a relatively large bottom area can be easily stored in the vicinity of the ceiling surface of the storage space, which is usually out of use. Thus, there is an advantage in that space efficiency of the storage space can be enhanced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly,to a tray apparatus for a refrigerator, which is designed to occupy apredetermined space only when articles are to be placed thereon, so thatan interior space of the refrigerator can be efficiently utilized.

2. Description of the Prior Art

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a generalrefrigerator. Referring to FIG. 1, a freezing chamber 3 and arefrigerating chamber 5, which serve as a storage space for keeping orstoring articles therein, are formed within a refrigerator body 1. Thefreezing chamber 3 and the refrigerating chamber 5 are divided by abarrier 7. Thus, the interior temperatures thereof are set to bedifferent from each other so that the articles can be storedindividually according to respective features of the articles.

A plurality of shelves 8 are installed at a predetermined verticalinterval within the freezing chamber 3 and the refrigerating chamber 5so that the storage space can be efficiently utilized. The freezingchamber 3 and the refrigerating chamber 5 are shielded from the outsideand opened selectively by the doors 9, respectively. Inner faces of thedoors 9 are provided with a plurality of baskets 11 for keeping thearticles therein. Reference numeral 5′ is a vegetable container which ispartitioned separately at a lower portion of the refrigerating chamber 5so that vegetable or fruit is stored therein.

That is, the articles are stored in the freezing chamber 3 and therefrigerating chamber 5 of the refrigerator. More specifically, thearticles are stored on the floor, the shelves 8 or in the baskets 11 ofthe freezing and refrigerating chambers 3 and 5, according to respectivekinds and sizes of the articles.

However, there are the following problems in the aforementioned priorart.

An area in the freezing and refrigerating chambers 3 and 5, on which thearticles can be placed, is generally limited. Thus, in order to store orkeep a lot of articles in the chambers, the articles may be placed oneabove another. However, this results in the following inconvenience.That is, if any lower one of the stacked articles is to be taken outfrom the chamber, all the articles placed above the specific articleshould be displaced.

In particular, an article with a large bottom area, e.g. a pizza box ora flat article, occupies a large bottom area of the storage space, whilea space above the article is left to be unused. Thus, there is anotherproblem in that space efficiency is lowered. In such a case, otherarticles may be put on the top of the flat article such as the pizzabox. However, it is still very inconvenient for a user to take out thepizza box or the like in a stacked state as mentioned above.

Furthermore, spaces in the vicinity of a ceiling surface of the storagespace (for example, ceilings of the freezing and refrigerating chambers3 and 5, bottom surfaces of the shelves 8, and the like) are notsubstantially often used for storing the articles. This is because theheight of the article is generally lower than a distance between theadjacent shelves 8 or between one of the shelves 8 and the ceilingsurface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is conceived to solve the above problems in theprior art.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a trayapparatus for a refrigerator by which an article with a large bottomarea can be more efficiently received in a storage space of therefrigerator.

Another object of the present invention is to a tray apparatus for arefrigerator by which an upper portion of a storage space can be moreefficiently utilized.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the aboveobjects, there is provided a tray apparatus for a refrigerator, whichcomprises a tray on which an article to be stored is placed, linkmechanisms which support both sides of the tray such that the tray canbe lifted to and lowered from a ceiling surface of a storage space, andholders for allowing the link mechanisms to be pivotally mounted to theceiling surface of the storage space.

Preferably, each of the link mechanisms includes a plurality ofsupporting links which are pivotally mounted to the holder and pivotallysupport the tray on respective one ends thereof, and an interlockinglink which connects the plurality of supporting links to one another tocause the ends of the supporting links to be pivoted through the sameangle.

More preferably, each of the link mechanisms receives an elastic forcefrom one of elastic members and causes the tray to be brought into closecontact with the ceiling surface of the storage space.

Further, each of the elastic members may be connected to the relevantholder and interlocking link at both ends thereof so that the elasticforce is applied in a direction in which the tray is brought into closecontact with the ceiling surface of the storage space.

Furthermore, each of the elastic members may be installed at the centersof pivot of the supporting links so that the elastic force is applied ina direction in which the tray is brought into close contact with theceiling surface of the storage space.

Preferably, connecting links are engaged with opposite ends of the supporting links, respectively, at a predetermined angle with respect tolongitudinal directions of the supporting links, and other ends of theconnecting links are pivotally connected to relevant ends of theinterlocking links.

The connecting links and the supporting links may be integrally pivoted.

A front end of the tray may be formed into a downwardly sloped portionthat is curved downwardly.

The ceiling surface of the storage space may be one of a ceiling of afreezing chamber, a ceiling of a refrigerating chamber, and a bottomsurface of any one of shelves.

According to the tray apparatus of the present invention, there areadvantages in that the article with a relatively large bottom area canbe efficiently stored in the refrigerator without using a floor surfaceof a storage space, and thus, the space efficiency of the storage spacecan be improved by using a space in the vicinity of a ceiling surface ofthe storage space in the refrigerator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description of apreferred embodiment given in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of ageneral refrigerator;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a tray apparatusfor a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 a is a side view showing a state where a tray of the trayapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is inclose contact with a ceiling of a storage space;

FIG. 3 b is a side view showing a state where the tray of the trayapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is fullylowered from the ceiling;

FIG. 4 a is a plan view of the tray of the tray apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 b is a side view of a supporting link of the tray apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 c is a front view of a connecting link of the tray apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 d is a side view of the connecting link of the tray apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 e is a front view of an interlocking link of the tray apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 f is a front view of a holder of the tray apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 g is a plan view of the holder of the tray apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating how to operate the tray apparatus ina state where an article is placed on the tray of the tray apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a tray apparatus for a refrigerator according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 2-5 show the configuration of the tray apparatus for therefrigerator according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. Referring to FIGS. 2-5, a tray 50 is formed in asubstantially rectangular shape by arranging a plurality of wires on aframe of the tray. An article b to be stored is placed on the tray 50.The tray 50 may be made of various materials, e.g. a transparent plasticmaterial. Bores 52 are installed on front and rear locations at bothsides of a bottom face of the tray 50. The bores 52 at each side may beconnected with each other.

A front end of the tray 50 is formed into a downwardly sloped portion 54that is curved downwardly at a predetermined angle. The downwardlysloped portion 54 of the tray 50 causes a predetermined gap to bedefined between the portion 54 and a ceiling surface c of the storagespace when the tray 50 comes into close contact with the ceilingsurface. Thus, a user can easily lower the tray 50 owing to the gap.

The tray 50 is supported at the ceiling surface c of the storage spacethrough link mechanisms such that it can be lifted to or lowered fromthe ceiling surface. Supporting links 60 are first installed in such amanner that respective ends thereof are connected to the relevant bores52 of the tray 50. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention,four supporting links 60 are utilized.

As clearly shown in FIG. 4 b, each of the supporting links 60 isprovided at one end thereof with an engaging hook 62 that protrudes in adirection perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the supportinglink 60. The engaging hook 62 is rotatably fitted into the bore 52 ofthe tray 50. At this time, the engaging hook 62 is not inadvertentlyremoved from the bore 52 since it is fitted with a predetermined elasticforce resulting from its own inherent shape.

Each of the supporting links 60 is provided at the other end thereofwith a rotating shaft portion 64 that protrudes in a direction oppositeto the direction of the engaging hook 62. The rotating shaft portion 64is supported in one of holders 100 to be described later and becomes acenter of pivot for the supporting link 60. An engaging hook 66 isprovided at a tip end of the rotating shaft portion 64. The engaginghook 66 is used to cause the supporting link 62 to be fixed to one ofconnecting links 70 to be described later.

Each of the connecting links 70 is coupled to the engaging hook 66 ofthe relevant supporting link 60. At this time, the connecting link 70 iscoupled in such a manner that its imaginary extension line intersectswith an imaginary longitudinal extension line of the supporting link 60at a predetermined angle between them. Further, the supporting link 60and the connecting link 70 do not rotate with respect to each other.Therefore, the supporting link 60 and the connecting link 70 may beintegrally formed with each other.

A fixing bore 72 is formed at an end of the connecting link 70. A hole73 is formed within the fixing bore 72. The engaging hook 66 is insertedinto the hole 73 so that the connecting link 70 and the supporting link60 are engaged with each other. The hole 73 is substantially rectangularin cross section. An engaging hook 75 is formed at the other end of theconnecting link 70. The engaging hook 75 is used to connect with one ofinterlocking links 80 to be described later.

Each of the interlocking links 80 allows a pair of supporting links 60for supporting the one side of the tray 50 to rotate together at thesame angle and is connected with the two connecting links 70. Engagingholes 82 are formed at both ends of each of the interlocking links 80,and the engaging hook 75 of the connecting link 70 is rotatably fittedinto the relevant engaging hole 82. A connecting piece 84 is formed atone side of the interlocking link 80 so that one end of one of elasticmembers 90 to be described later is hooked thereto.

Each of the elastic members 90 provides an elastic force to the relevantlink mechanism and causes the tray 50, which is lifted or lowered by thelink mechanisms, to always come into close contact with the ceilingsurface c of the storage space. The one end of the elastic member 90 isconnected to the connecting piece 84, and the other end thereof isconnected to a fixed portion such as one side of each of the holders 100to be described later. In the embodiment, a coil spring has been used asthe elastic member 90, but it is not necessarily limited thereto. Atorsion spring, which imparts an elastic force to the supporting link 60around the rotating shaft portion 64 of the supporting link 60, may beutilized.

In the meantime, the link mechanisms are supported on the ceilingsurface c of the storage space by means of the holders 100. The holders100 are installed at portions corresponding to the both sides of thetray 50, as clearly shown in FIGS. 4 f and 4 g. Hooks 102 for theattachment of the holder to the ceiling surface c and screw holes 103are formed at both ends of each of the holders 100. A link receivingportion 104 is formed in the holder 100. The interlocking link 80, theelastic member 90, and the like are placed in the link receiving portion104 corresponding to a space formed in a longitudinal direction of theholder 100.

Supporting ribs 106 are formed in the middle of the both ends of theholder 100, respectively. Link holes 107 are also formed on thesupporting ribs and corresponding outer surfaces of the holder 100. Therotating shaft portion 64 of the supporting link 60 is fitted into andsupported by the relevant one of the link holes 107 that penetratesthrough the supporting ribs 106 and the corresponding outer surfaces ofthe holder 100.

An operation of the tray apparatus of the present invention constructedas such will be hereinafter explained in detail.

First, it will be described how to assemble the tray apparatus accordingto the embodiment of the present invention. The holders 100 into whichthe link mechanisms are assembled are mounted on the ceiling surface cof the storage space. The holders 100 are installed at right and leftportions of the ceiling surface of the storage space at a predeterminedinterval.

In each of the supporting links 60 of the link mechanisms, the rotatingshaft portion 64 is fitted into the relevant holder 100 through the linkhole 107, and the relevant connecting link 70 is fixed to the connectinghook 66. The relevant pair of connecting links 70 at fore and aft endsis connected via the relevant interlocking link 80. The interlockinglink 80 is supported by the relevant elastic member 90 so that theassociated supporting links 60 are subjected to the elastic force forcausing them to be urged to the ceiling surface c of the storage space.

The tray 50 is connected to the lower ends of the supporting links 60 ofthe link mechanisms. The tray 50 is supported at the both sides by thesupporting links 60, in which the engaging hooks 62 of the supportinglinks 60 facing each other inward the holders 100 at the both sides arerotatably inserted into the bores 52 provided on the front and rearlocations at the both sides of the tray 50.

When the tray 50 is installed at the lower ends of the supporting links60 in such a way, the tray 50 is in close contact with the ceilingsurface c of the storage space by means of the elastic forces of theelastic members 90, as shown in FIG. 3 a. At this time, since thesupporting links 60 are also rotated therewith to be urged to theceiling surface c of the storage space, the connecting links 70connected to opposite ends of the supporting links 60 are in the rotatedstate shown in FIG. 3 a. Such rotation is achieved by the elastic forcesof the elastic members 90. Therefore, the interlocking links 80 havebeen moved to a relatively left position as viewed in the figure.

Meanwhile, in order to lower the tray 50, a user merely grasps thedownwardly sloped portion 54 formed at the front end of the tray 50 andexerts a force on the sloped portion so that the tray is moved downwardand rearward. When the user exerts the force on the tray 50, the linkmechanisms that support the tray 50 are pivoted while overcoming theelastic forces of the elastic members 90.

That is, the supporting links 60 and the connecting links 70 areintegrally pivoted on the rotating shaft portion 64 in a clockwisedirection and the interlocking links 80 are moved rightward when viewedin the figure. FIG. 3 b shows the state where the tray 50 is fullylowered.

Next, storing an article b on the tray 50 will be described. As shown inFIG. 3 b, the article b such as a thin, hexahedral pizza box is placedon the tray 50 in the state where the tray 50 is fully lowered. When theuser relinquishes his/her hold of the tray 50, the supporting links 60and the connecting links 70 of the fink mechanisms are lifted whilepivoting in a counterclockwise direction by means of the elastic forcesof the elastic members 90.

The lift of the tray 50 continues until a top surface of the article bplaced on the tray 50 comes into contact with the ceiling surface c ofthe storage space, so that the state shown in FIG. 5 is achieved.Therefore, the article b is stored in the state where it is in closecontact with the tray 50 and the ceiling surface c of the storage spaceby means of the elastic forces of the elastic members 90.

Meanwhile, the ceiling surface c of the storage space on which the trayapparatus of the present invention is mounted may be a ceiling of therefrigerating chamber, a ceiling of the freezing chamber, a bottomsurface of any one of shelves for vertically partitioning therefrigerating and freezing chambers, or the like.

As described above in detail, the tray apparatus for the refrigeratoraccording to the present invention is configured in such a manner thatthe link mechanisms are installed to impart the elastic forces to thetray in a direction in which the tray is brought into close contact withthe ceiling surface of the storage space. Thus, the article with arelatively large bottom area can be additionally stored in the vicinityof the ceiling surface of the storage space, which is usually out ofuse. Therefore, there is an advantage in that the storage space can beefficiently utilized.

Furthermore, when the tray apparatus is not in use, the tray is broughtinto close contact with the ceiling surface of the storage space. Thus,there is another advantage in that the tray apparatus does not furtheroccupy an additional storage space.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodimentdescribed above but defined by the appended claims. It will be apparentthat those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changesthereto within the scope defined by the claims.

1. A tray apparatus for a refrigerator, comprising: a tray on which anarticle to be stored is placed; link mechanisms which support both sidesof the tray such that the tray can be lifted to and lowered from aceiling surface of a storage space; and holders for allowing the linkmechanisms to be pivotally mounted to the ceiling surface of the storagespace.
 2. The tray apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of thelink mechanisms includes: a plurality of supporting links which arepivotally mounted to the holder and pivotally support the tray onrespective one ends thereof, and an interlocking link which connects theplurality of supporting links to one another to cause the ends of thesupporting links to be pivoted through the same angle.
 3. The trayapparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the link mechanismsreceives an elastic force from one of elastic members and causes thetray to be brought into close contact with the ceiling surface of thestorage space.
 4. The tray apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein eachof the elastic members is connected to the relevant holder andinterlocking link at both ends thereof so that the elastic force isapplied in a direction in which the tray is brought into close contactwith the ceiling surface of the storage space.
 5. The tray apparatus asclaimed in claim 3, wherein each of the elastic members is installed atthe centers of pivot of the supporting links so that the elastic forceis applied in a direction in which the tray is brought into closecontact with the ceiline surface of the storage space.
 6. The trayapparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein connecting links are engagedwith opposite ends of the supporting links, respectively, at apredetermined angle with respect to longitudinal directions of thesupporting links, and other ends of the connecting links are pivotallyconnected to relevant ends of the interlocking links.
 7. The trayapparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the connecting links and thesupporting links are integrally pivoted.
 8. The tray apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein a front end of the tray is formed into adownwardly sloped portion that is curved downwardly.
 9. The trayapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ceiling surface of thestorage space is one selected from a group consisting of a ceiling of afreezing chamber, a ceiling of a refrigerating chamber, and a bottomsurface of any one of shelves.